Denture



Feb. 13, 1934. Q WHARTON 1,947,026

DENTURE Filed NOV. 27, 1931 Patented Feb. 13, 1934 STATES PATENT GFFECE Application November 27, 1931 Serial No. 577,478

o 8 Claims.

This invention relates to dentures and particularly to lower dentures of the sectionalized or plural part full denture type, and contemplates an improvement for permitting lateral excursion of the anterior and posterior parts of the denture.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration herein relatively great lateral excursion or lateral swinging movement is permitted along the top or upper edge of the denture part with relatively slight movement along the bottom or foundation engaging base. The appliance is rigidly acting under pressures on the anterior teeth except for lateral excursion of the anterior part on the posterior parts, and this is permitted around low Centers. Upon pressure upon the posterior parts only, these parts have freedom for lateral excursion around low centers and when the entire appliance is under pressure lateral excursion of the anterior part relative the posterior parts is through a crank-like action also around low centers, the posterior parts having freedom for lateral excursion about the same low centers at this time.

In addition to the foregoing improvements the appliance of the present invention is so onstructed that the masticating pressures on the anterior `teeth will be taken care of partly, at least, by the posterior parts or the denture on either side, and the appliance may be so constructed that the posterior parts .will begin compression on the posterior tissues before pressure is brought upon the tissues along the Yanterior part. At the same time the anterior and posterior parts of the denture have relative up and down movement whereby the masticating pres.- sures on the posterior teeth are taken by the posterior tissues without application of objectionable stresses upon the anterior part or upon the anterior tissues therebeneath. Furthermore, the construction is such that compression of the tissues under the posterior part at one side does not produce objectionable stresses upon the tissues along the posterior part at the opposite side.

The seotionalized construction enables providing and maintaining better accommodation to the mouth and enables uni-lateral functioning without bi-lateral stress and, as already pointed out, each posterior part permits of downward pressure independently of the anterior part and the opposite posterior part, thereby enabling the compression of the tissue pad under either posterior part without compressing the tissues under the anterior part or under the opposite posterior part. The sectionalized construction also makes it possible to take the impression of the lower jaw in diierent sections instead of in a single impression. This enables taking the impressions of the posterior areas under pressure and separately and with the anterior tissues at rest.

The particular number of parts into which the denture is divided may vary within the scope of the present invention. In the preferred embodiment the denture is made in three parts, right and left hand posterior parts carrying the posterior teeth with a separate anterior part carry- 85 ing the six lower anterior teeth. The meeting ends of the parts are detachably connected by crank-like connectors which provide low centers of excursion for the posterior parts and through crank-like action relatively great lateral exoursion of the upper edge of the anterior part about the same low centers. At the same time the cooperation of the crank-like connectors with the respective denture parts is such as will permit relative; up and down movement between the parts, and particularly downward movement of the posterior parts free of the anterior part.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a top plan view of an embodiment .80 of the invention;

Figure 2 is a rear elevational View partially in section and taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1 with the foundation or lower jaw in dotted lines;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical section on 85 an enlarged scale and taken on the line 3 3 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section on an enlarged scale and taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a view of one end of the posterior denture part taken substantially on the line 5 5 of Figure 1 and showing one of the eccentric pins of the crank-like connector in section.

Referring to the drawing, the embodiment of the invention illustrated therein comprises right and left hand lower posterior parts 5 and 6 and an intermediate front or anterior lower part 7 disposed therebetween and constituting with the parts 5 and 6 a full lower denture. The part 5 100 comprises a base portion 8 carrying the right hand posterior lower teeth 9 and the part 6 comprises a base portion 10 carrying the left hand posterior lower teeth 11. The anterior part 7 comprises a base portion 12 carrying the six 105 lower anterior teeth 13.

The base portions 8 and 10 may be of any suitable or preferred material, gold, rubber, and condensites being now commonly used for this purpose. The teeth 9 and 11 and the lower anterior 110 teeth 13 are rigidly attached to the respective base portions 8, 10 and 12.

The bottoms of the base portions 8, 10 and 12 are formed at 15 to conform with the foundation or lower jaw indicated in dotted lines at 16 in Figures 1 and 2. This formation while continum ous around the full denture is sectionalized along the joints between the denture parts. The sectional character of the appliance enables taking the impression in separate sections instead of in one impression (as in a one-piece denture), enabling particularly taking the impressions of the posterior areas under pressure independently of the anterior area so that the anterior area may be at rest and without stressing the saine with pressure upon the posterior areas. The sectionalized construction also enables better accommodation to the foundation or jaw 16 and permits uni-lateral functioning of the appliance without bi-lateral stress. The posterior base portions 8 and 10 may be formed at 17 and 18, respectively, to grip around the mylohyoid ridge indicated more or less diagraininatically at 20.

The base portions 8 and 12 abut endwise at 25 and the base portions 12 and 10 abut endwise at 26. These abutting ends 25 and 26 preferably are in vertical or substantially vertical planes as in` dicated by the dot and dash lines 27 and 28.

The connecting means between the abutting ends 25 and 26 are identical so that a description or" the connection between the abutting ends 25 will suffice for both. This connection comprises a flat circular metal disc 30 interposed between the abutting ends of the denture parts 5 and 7 and provided with a pair of diainetiically opposite eccentric pins 31 and 32, one projecting from one side of the disc 30 into a vertically elongated slot 33 in a fiat metal plate 34 secured to the adjacent end of the denture part 5 and the other vextending into a vertically elongated slot 35 in a similar dat metal plate 36 secured to the opposed end of the denture part 7. rIhe opposite vertical edges and lower edge of the plate 34 are turned in as shown at 39 in Figure 5 to receive a washer 37 through which the pin 31 projects, and the vertical edges and lower edge of the plate 36 are similarly turned in to receive a washer 3S through which the pin 32 projects. The inturned edges of the plates Sli and 36 are spaced from the respective plates substantially the thickness of the respective washers to receive and retain these washers which form spacers for properly positioning the disc 3G between the abutting ends of the denture parts. It is understood that these plates may be relatively thin and may be embedded in the ends of the respective denture parts substantially flush with the abutting surfaces thereof, the thickness of the disc 30 preferably being such as to be accommodated and properly operable with the inturned margins 39 of one plate in engagement with the corresponding inturned margins of the adjacent plate.

The pins 31 and 32 are preferably threaded and nuts 40 are provided for holding the same in place in the respective slots 33 and 35.

Thin metal strips i2 turned in marginally and suitably secured at 43 to the plates Se and 36 as shown in Figure i cover the slots 33 and 35 and the adjacent ends of the pins 31 and 32 and prevent interference with the action of these pins in the respective slots by the attachment of the plates 34 and 36 to the denture parts 5 and 7. The plates 34 and 36 and the slot and pin enclosing pieces 42 are preferably set into the respective denture parts from the abutting ends 25 and may be molded or otherwise secured in place. For the purpose oi additionally anchoring the plate 36 and enclosure 42 in the adjacent denture part the back of the enclosure is provided with an anchoring bail 14 embedded in the portion of the adjacent denture part. enclosing pieces 42 may be applied and secured at 43 to the plates 34 and 36 after application of the nuts e0.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the pin 3l is normally at the bottom ci the vertically elongated slot 33 whereas the pin 32 is normally at the top of the vertically el ngated slot 35. The eccentric pin arrangement between the abutting ends 26 is the saine. This permits relative up and down movement between the parts, and particularly it permits downward movement of the posterior parte 5 and 5 free of the anterior part 7. As a result masticating pressures on the posterior parts are imposed upon the tissues underlying these parts without stress upon the antei or part or upon the tissues underlying the saine, and at the same time pressure upon either posterior part is not transmitted to the opposite posterior part nor to the tissues underlying the same. However, the masticating pressures upon the anterior part are transmitted through the gagement of the upper ends of the slots 35 with the pins 32 and the engagement of the pins with the lower ends of the slots 33 to the posterior parts so that these masticating preson the anterior part will be at least partly taken care of by the posterior parts of the denon each side. The appliance may be so constructed that upon pressure upon the anterior part the posterior parts will begin compr. sion on the posterior tissues before pressure is brought upon the tissues along the anterior part.

The pins 31 form pivots for the posterior parts 5 6 and the eccentric arrangement disposes these pivots near the lower edges of the posterior parts so that the upper edges of these parts will have relatively great lateral excursion aboutI the pins 3i with relatively slight movement along the bottoms of the posterior parts about these pins. At the same time the discs 30 and pins forni crank extensions for the opposite ends ci the anterior part '7 so that upon pressure on the anterior teeth or along the entire appliance the anterior part will have lateral eX- cursion through a crank action about the low centers `of the pins 3l.

The appliance is rigidly acting undo;` pressures on the anterior teeth except rior lateral excursion or lateral swinging through the crank action of the connectors and about the centers of the.

pins 31. At the saine time the posterior parts when under pressure have freedom for lateral excursion about the pins 31, and when the entire appliance is under pressure the posterior parts 5 and 6 have lateral excursion about the pins 31 and at the same time the anterior part 7 has lateral excursion about these pins through the crank action above described.

I believe it is broadly new with the present invention to provide a sectionalized denture comprising a plurality of tooth carrying denture parts supplementing each other to constitute a full lower denture with means joining the denture parts and permitting not only free up and dov/n movement between the parts, but also lateral excursion of the parts.

I believe it is also broadly new to provide low centers for relatively great lateral excursion of the posterior parts with slight movement along the lower edges of these parts, and particularly for obtaining this relatively great lateral excursion of the upper edges of the posterior parts with slight movement along the lower edges of these parts and at the same time providing for lateral excursion of the anterior part about the same low centers through the crank-like action provided by the connectors between the abutting ends of the denture parts.

The particular construction for accomplishing this and the manner in which interference with the action of the pins in the slotted plates on the ends of the denture parts by the attachment of these plates to the parts is prevented, is another aspect of the present invention.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the teachings of the present invention are broader than the specific embodiment illustrated, and I do not intend tov be limited to the specic details shown and described.

I claim:

l. In combination, a pair of denture parts having abutting ends and provided with vertically elongated slots adjacent said abutting ends and a disc disposed between the abutting ends of said parts and provided with eccentric pins engaging in said slots and constituting a compound eccentric permitting lateral excursion and relative vertical movement between the denture parts.

2. In combination, a pair of denture parts having abutting ends, flat plates one on each of said abutting ends, said plates having vertically elongated slots and a disc positioned between said plates and having diametrically opposite pins one extending into the vertically elongated lslot of each plate.

3. In combination, a pair of denture parts having abutting ends, fiat plates one on each of said abutting ends, said plates having vertically elongated slots, a disc positioned between said plates and having diametrically oposite pins one extending into the vertically elongated slot oi each plate, and means covering said slots and preventing interference with the action of said pins therein by the attachment of said plates to the denture parts.

4. A sectionalized denture comprising right and left hand posterior denture parts carrying posterior teeth, an anterior denture part carrying anterior teeth and disposed between and constituting with said posterior parts a full lower denture, relatively iow pivots for the posterior parts whereby relatively great lateral excursion of said parts is permitted with relatively slight movement at the bottoms of said posterior parts, and means on said pivots for lateral excursion of said is permitted with relatively slight movement at the bottoms of said posterior parts, and means on said pivots for lateral excursion of said anterior part by crank-like action about said pivots, said pivots and crank-like means having lost motion cooperation with the denture parts whereby the posterior parts are movable downwardly free of said anterior part and downward pressures upon the anterior part are imposed upon said posterior parts.

6. A sectionalized denture comprising right and left hand posterior denture parts carrying posterior teeth, an anterior denture part carrying anterior teeth and disposed between and constituting with said posterior parts a full lower denture, said denture parts having abutting ends with slots adjacent said ends and crank-like connectors between said parts and provided with eccentric pins engaging in said slots.

7. A sectionalized denture comprising right and left hand posterior denture parts carrying posterior teeth, an anterior denture part carrying anterior teeth and disposed between and constituting with said posterior parts a full lower denture, said denture parts having abutting ends with slots adjacent said ends, cranklike connectors between said parts and provided with eccentric pins engaging in said slots, said slots being elongated vertically for relative vertical movement between the parts and the eccentric pins for the anterior part cooperating with the upper ends of the slots thereof with the eccentric pins for the posterior parts in cooperation with the lower ends of the slots adjacent the ends of the posterior parts.

8. A dental plate comprising an intermediate section and a pair of end sections, said sections disposed in end to end abutting engagement with each other and the abutting ends of said sections being provided with crank-like connectors engaging in the abutting ends oi said sections to connect the sections together for relative lateral excursion of the sections and for relative vertical movement of said sections in the operation of the denture in the mouth, the sections constituting a complete denture.

CHARLES H. WHARTON. 

